Jewish Professor Gets Damages & His Job Back

MADISON, Wis. (CN) – A technical college must reinstate and pay $555,000 to a history professor who convinced a jury that the school called him a “litigious Jew” and fired him. Dr. Michael Dubin sued the Madison Area Technical College and its board in 2010, claiming that his contract was not renewed because of his Jewish heritage and beliefs. The complaint says Dubin was subjected to “humiliating, anti-Semitic remarks by the (then) Chair of the History/Social Science Department … who … accused Dubin of being a ‘litigious Jew’ who was inferior to non-Jews in the department.” Dubin said he was unfairly criticized and reprimanded by the department head and that his course curriculums were rejected for no reason. The school told him he “was ‘not needed’ in the History/Social Sciences Department since there were ‘already enough Jews’ there,” according to the complaint. A jury ruled in Dubin’s favor in May, and Chief U.S. District Judge William Conley signed off on the judgment Monday. Dubin will take home $255,000 in back wages and benefits, along with $300,000 for emotional and reputational injuries. One of his lawyers with Fox & Fox said the professor is eager to return to work. “Despite his disagreement with certain individuals at MATC whose activities he perceived to be illegal, Dr. Dubin’s enthusiasm and respect for the college, its unique mission and its wonderful student body has been unflagging, attorney Randall Gold said in a statement. Dubin was also represented by Michael Fox.